| Author Details | (Compiler) |
|---|---|
| Author (Corporate) | Cardiff EDC |
| Publication Date | 2019-2020 |
| Content Type | News, Overview |
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Summary: Reports and analyses of the process of government formation in Spain, following an inconclusive general election on 10 November 2019 from which none of the competing political parties managed to acquire a parliamentary majority. Further Information: Spain's centre-left Socialists (PSOE) - the winners of the election and yet short of a majority - reached an unexpected coalition agreement with leftist Unidas Podemos (UP) on 12 November. This was seen as a game changer, considering the tense relations between the two parties and several failed attempts at reaching a deal previously. Yet, the combination only yielded 155 seats, compared to the 176 required for a parliamentary majority that was able to confirm any proposed cabinet. The coalition therefore required the endorsement from other parties, in particular the regionalist forces which had become stronger as a result of the election. Spanish King Felipe VI tasked PSOE leader Pedro Sánchez on 12 December with forming a government. Mr Sánchez was confirmed as Prime Minister, together with his coalition government, at a second voting round in Parliament on 7 January 2020. This became the first coalition cabinet in Spain for 80 years. While this allowed Mr Sánchez to remain in power, it would require cooperation from ten separate political forces to pass legislation going forward. The cabinet was endorsed by Parliament with the abstention of both Esquerra Republicana De Catalunya (ERC), the Catalan separatist party, as well as Basque EH Bildu, a political party formerly associated with a Basque terrorist organization. Right-wing opposition - including far-right VOX party - accused Mr Sánchez of catering to separatist parties in order to secure the abstention. Some of the left also accused the Prime Minister of "(...) selling the constitution for a handful of votes". The cabinet pledged to revese austerity measures imposed during the economic crisis, increase worker protections, and raise the minimum wage..As part of the agreement with the regionalist parties, a written promise was produced to open a political dialogue between the Spanish government and the Catalan leadership to ease the tense relations between both sides. |
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| Subject Categories | Politics and International Relations |
| Subject Tags | National Politics |
| Countries / Regions | Spain |
